Mohamed Salah: Liverpool forward will be ‘unbelievable’, predicts Farke
Daniel Farke spoke ahead of Leeds vs Liverpool
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah’s loss of form makes the four-time Premier League golden boot winner “pretty dangerous”, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has said.
Salah struck 29 times in 2024/25 to finish on six goals more than any other top-flight player, but the revered forward has scored five times in 18 matches in all competitions this season and was dropped for the first time in the campaign in the Reds’ 2-0 win at West Ham in their last away game, remaining an unused substitute.
“The more games he has without a goal or assist, the more likely it is that he will score or assist,” said Farke, acknowledging a “difficult” run of form for Salah, whose four-goal tally in the top flight this term has been matched by teammate Cody Gakpo.
“We just have to make sure that the spell lasts one more game. I’m pretty sure he will be there, at the end of the season, with many goals.
“He’s still there – he’s the best scorer in the league for them – so I have no doubt he will deliver unbelievable things this season. He has done that for all of his career.”
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Leeds vs Liverpool: Van Dijk, Konate ‘outstanding’
Leeds host Liverpool on Saturday after earning their best result so far this season on Wednesday, beating title hopefuls Chelsea 3-1 at Elland Road through goals by Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The result lifted last season’s Championship winners three points clear of the relegation zone, while Liverpool – who left Salah on the bench until half-time – failed to win for the 10th time in their last 14 matches in all competitions with a 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland, who would have won but for Nordi Mukiele’s 81st-minute own goal.
“Even [current Premier League top scorer] Erling Haaland had a period when he was not scoring,” Farke said of Salah, also offering his backing to centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
“It’s then always in the spotlight because it’s so unusual. I wouldn’t label, with Van Dijk and Konate at the back, that they are struggling.
“They are outstanding, world-class defenders and even the best in the world sometimes have a game or whatever where they don’t have their best game.
“If you’re a striker, sometimes you can lose the ball and and no-one is too aware about it. But one little mistake in the back row is quite often punished and criticised.
“I have no doubt that we will face top centre-backs – they have proven it over many years, and this season I have also seen them in many games: against Real Madrid [a 1-0 Champions League home victory] it was a clean-sheet win, against West Ham it was a clean-sheet win.
“I don’t want to compare West Ham with Real Madrid, but at Champions League and Premier League level they have delivered clean sheets.”
Leeds vs Chelsea: Farke backs players
Farke remained the odds-on favourite on Thursday to become the next Premier League boss to leave their post, with Reds counterpart Arne Slot also among the frontrunners after a dire run by the standards the Dutchman set on his way to winning the title in his debut season in England in 2024/25.
Leeds had lost six of their previous seven games before brushing aside the Blues, although they were unfortunate to lose to a 91st-minute Manchester City winner in their preceding away game.
“The good thing we can also take out of the Chelsea game is that we have proven we can score more or less out of each and every situation: set-pieces, counter-attacks, out of possession, by creating through the centre and the wings,” suggested Farke.
“What I like about my team is that we have scored three goals against a good defending side in Chelsea, and we could have scored a few more. I always back my players to create something and score goals.”
How to watch Leeds vs Liverpool: TV channel, online live stream
Leeds vs Liverpool kicks off at 17:30 GMT (12:30 ET / 09:30 PT) on Saturday, December 6 and is being shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra.
Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £14.99 for a day membership, £28 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.
Sky Sports memberships include access to all 12 live Sky Sports channels and Sky Sports+, which offers live streams and a dedicated channel.
Streaming is available on a vast variety of devices via the Sky GO app.
Premier League fixtures this weekend
All matches start at 15:00 GMT / 12:00 ET / 09:00 PT unless stated otherwise.
Saturday, December 6
Aston Villa vs Arsenal (12:30)
Bournemouth vs Chelsea
Everton vs Nottingham Forest
Manchester City vs Sunderland
Newcastle vs Burnley
Tottenham vs Brentford
Leeds vs Liverpool (17:30)
Sunday, December 7
Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Ham (14:00)
Fulham vs Crystal Palace (16:30)
Monday, December 8
Wolves vs Manchester United (20:00)